remaining performances of LOVE LETTERS at Fountain Hills Theatre features local celebrity couples

The remaining performances of LOVE LETTERS at Fountain Hills Theatre feature local celebrity couples including former NBA star Steven Hunter and his wife Erika, Fountain Hills mayor the Honorable Linda Kavanagh and her husband, State Senator John Kavanagh. and FHT's own Peter J. Hill and his wife Noël Irick 

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Erika & Steven Hunter | Thursday, January 12
Erika originally hails from Pontiac, Michigan, but is happy to call Fountain Hills her home these days where she keeps herself busy with a number of pursuits. She splits time as an Event/Wedding Planner on some days and a Realtor for HomeSmart on others. She also shares a passion with her husband Steven for helping children through their Steven Hunter Youth Foundation. Erika expresses herself through photography, for which she holds a degree and she also has a huge soft spot for dogs... “I love dogs!”

Stephen is a former center for the Phoenix Suns. He played basketball at Proviso East High School, which has a rich history in Illinois high school basketball, producing such NBA players as Sherell Ford, Michael Finley, Jim Brewer, Doc Rivers, Dee Brown and Shannon Brown. Hunter then played two years at DePaul University in Chicago, before declaring himself eligible for the 2001 NBA Draft. He has played for the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and the Philadelphia 76ers. In 2014, Hunter became the Phoenix Suns’ Ambassador to communities throughout Arizona. His efforts earned Hunter the NBA Community Assist Award. Last summer, he ran a Youth Camp here in Fountain Hills.

Noel Irick & Peter J. Hill | Saturday, January 14
Noël hails originally from New Jersey. As always she loves working at FHT and considers it “home”. She has designed dances for 42nd St, A Chorus Line, La Cage Aux Folles, Crazy For You, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Producers, The Full Monty, Cats, Young Frankenstein and many more here at FHT and at various theaters throughout the Valley. She recently directed and choreographed Fiddler on the Roof for MET. Noël has directed Nunsence, Amadeus, Man Of La Mancha, and Babes In Toyland. She also directed and co-wrote The Nutcracker-A Play with her husband Peter J. Hill. Noël recently received the ariZoni Outstanding Contribution to Theatre 2013/2014 Award. A special thanks to the staff and to Peter...(if I shot him when I wanted to, I’d be out by now).
Peter J. Hill (Director/Set Design) is an accomplished playwright whose scripts include Ashes to Ashes, The Big Radio Broadcast of 1941, The Man Who Would Be King, Moby Dick, The Three Musketeers, Jeanette and Nelson, Move Over, A Beautiful Noise, Midsummer Dreamin’, Fascinatin’ Rhythm, Broadway by the Decade, Could You Repeat the Question? and an original musical adaptation of Dicken’s ‘A Christmas Carol’. Peter is also proud to be the creator of the world’s only audience interactive musicals with his ‘Jukebox’ series of shows. Over the last 30+ years he has directed over 300 plays and musicals, including the Southwest premiers of A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, ‘night, Mother, Smokey Joe’s Café, Lend Me a Tenor and The Woman in Black. For Peter’s penchant for directing slap-dash farces The Arizona Republic has called him, ‘Arizona’s premier farceur’ and the Tribune Papers dubbed him ‘The Valley’s king of farce’.  As an actor, Peter has played roles ranging from Henry Higgins in the musical My Fair Lady to Antonio Salieri in Amadeus. In 2009, Peter was honored with the Outstanding Contribution Award for his 30 years of dedication to valley theater by the ariZoni Awards. He is also a 2015 Governor’s Arts Award nominee. Peter would like to give his deepest thanks to the astonishing FHT staff – Allison, Patty, Ross and Todd for making this not only the valley’s finest theater, but a great place to come to everyday. Peter is married to Noël Irick and lives by the motto…  ‘I can’t, I have rehearsal.’

Linda & John Kavanagh | Sunday, January 15
Upon moving to Arizona from New York, Linda became immersed in business and community service activities in her new hometown of Fountain Hills. She was and is a member of many civic organizations including the American Legion Auxiliary, Cultural & Civic Association, ADOG, Fountain Hills Republican Club, Falcon Boosters, PTO, Sister Cities Foundation, Arizona Latino Republican Association, Library Association, Friend of the Chamber (past chair), McDowell Park Association, Historical Society (past board member), and Chamber Ambassadors (past chair). She is an honorary Captain with the Maricopa County Sheriffs’ Department, was named Business Advocate of the Year by the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce and also served as its Board of Directors Chair. She was also named Fountain Hills Parks & Recreation Outstanding Volunteer of the Year, Community Center Volunteer of the Year and received the River of Time Museum Hero Award. She was inducted into the Lower Verde River Valley Hall of Fame in 2009, as a tribute to her many years of active involvement with the town’s civic, cultural, service, religious and business communities. In 2014 she was honored to be elected Mayor of Fountain Hills and is currently serving her second term.
John was born and raised in New York City. He met his wife Linda, the current mayor of Fountain Hills, when they both belonged to a volunteer ambulance corps in their late teens. He is a professor of criminal justice at Scottsdale Community College and director of the college’s Administration of Justice Studies and Forensic Science Program. Prior to teaching at Scottsdale Community College, John taught at Arizona State University and served 20 years as a police officer with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, retiring as a detective sergeant. John also served eight years in the Arizona House of Representatives, six years as a town councilman in Fountain Hills and also served three years on the Lafayette, New Jersey Town Council. He is currently serving his second term in the Arizona Senate.

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, and to order tickets